You can’t miss them. Jupiter and Venus, the two bright planets high in the western sky after sunset, have started to part company.

This past week, they were visible to anyone outside early in the evening. Two brilliant planets, side by side, like friends, setting well after sunset. The two were closest together on Wednesday night, about three degrees apart. From this weekend and through the weeks ahead, viewers can watch as Jupiter appears lower and lower in the sky, and farther away from Venus.

Venus is the brighter of the two and now the highest.

Venus and Jupiter appear close together every 13 months. What makes this time so special is their appearance at a time of day that made them highly visible. Sometimes it happens early in the morning and sometimes it happens when both appear close to the Sun and are difficult to observe.

Next year, the same event happens in May and the two will appear even closer.

Winter Constellations

The constellations of winter are now high in our western sky after sunset. Orion, the hunter, is now hanging in the southern sky amid the light of twilight. The three stars, evenly lined up together, make up the hunter’s belt and are one of the most distinguished features associated with the constellation. Just below the belt, what makes up the hunter’s sword, is a faint nebula and tight gathering of stars.